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Rip-and-Replace: Billions Pledged to Eradicate Chinese Telecom Threats

The 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), signed into law by President Biden, secures $3 billion in funding for the FCC’s Rip-and-Replace program. This initiative focuses on removing Chinese-manufactured telecom equipment from U.S. networks, addressing critical cybersecurity and national security threats.

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The 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), signed by President Biden, introduces a significant $3 billion funding allocation for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)’s Rip-and-Replace program. The program aims to remove and replace telecommunications equipment manufactured by Chinese companies like Huawei and ZTE, which pose potential cyber and national security risks.

This initiative stems from years of U.S. efforts to secure its telecommunications infrastructure. Small telecom firms with fewer than 10 million customers had previously received $1 billion under the Trump administration to replace risky equipment. In 2021, the FCC formalized the initiative under the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Reimbursement Program, popularly known as Rip-and-Replace. Initially funded at $1.9 billion, the program faced a shortfall as costs for full replacement escalated to $5 billion.

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Last month, the FCC highlighted a need for an additional $3.08 billion to support 126 carriers in replacing insecure equipment. This shortfall has now been addressed by the 2025 NDAA. Funding for the program will be sourced from proceeds of the FCC’s auction of AWS-3 spectrum.

In addition to Rip-and-Replace, the NDAA includes multiple cybersecurity and technological initiatives:

  • Creation of a cyber intelligence capability to enhance military cyber operations.
  • Authorization of cyber threat tabletop exercises for the defense industry.
  • Evaluation of cybersecurity measures for mobile devices used by the Pentagon.
  • Establishment of an AI Security Center to guide safe adoption of artificial intelligence, counter-AI techniques, and improve workforce capabilities.

The NDAA represents a critical step in fortifying the nation’s defense and technology infrastructure against evolving cyber threats and reinforces the government’s commitment to securing national communications networks.

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